University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is excited to offer you an opportunity to complete a Google Career Certificate at no cost. In partnership with Google, the University System of Maryland, and the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH), UMGC offers you the opportunity to enroll in a career-focused Google certificate program highlighting in-demand skills in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, data analytics, and more.
Learn About Google Career Certificates
Google Career Certificate courses are 100 percent online, self-paced, and taught by experts and experienced professionals Google estimates learners will need three to six months to complete a certificate spending 10 hours per week on coursework.
Take advantage of several additional benefits of a Google Career Certificate program including:
- Your choice of several high-impact, industry-focused certificates
- The ability to gain job-ready skills applicable to today’s (and tomorrow’s) workforce
- Flexible, accessible, fully online courses, so you can study anytime and anywhere
Enroll in a Google Career Certificate Program & Obtain a UMGC Voucher
Prior to enrolling, review the Google Career Certificates webpage and choose the program that best fits with your career goals and availability.
It is important that you follow the steps below so that you can make sure your Google Career Certificate is covered by UMGC.
1.
Complete the UMGC voucher request form: You’ll need to indicate which certificate you want to complete first and your estimated completion timeframe (so we can manage licenses fairly).
2.
Wait for UMGC approval & Coursera invitation: Coursera will send you an email invitation granting you program access after your license is approved. Check your UMGC email inbox for the invitation, as well as your spam folder, just in case.
3.
Use your UMGC email address to create a Coursera account: Enrollment in this program comes at no cost to you if you enroll through the correct process Once you’ve selected your program, you’ll be directed to the corresponding Coursera page. You’ll find additional program information here, as well as account setup instructions.
Remember, do not sign in with Google or any other social logins. Instead, you must follow UMGC’s enrollment steps and use your UMGC email address.
4.
Accept your Coursera invitation: After you’ve logged in, accept Coursera’s invitation and pick the certificate program you want to complete. Then begin your journey toward a Google Career Certificate!
Learn More About UMGC’s Google Career Certificate Initiative
UMGC has partnered with the University System of Maryland (USM), Google, and NASH to expand access to industry-recognized credentials that support career development and workforce advancement.
A Google Career Certificate can provide you with in-depth training in high-demand fields such as data science, cybersecurity, project management, and more. You can also enhance your resume by earning an industry-recognized credential that top employers value.
Additionally, learners who complete a certificate have access to:
- One-on-one career coaching
- A dedicated job platform for certificate holders
- Exclusive career-prep resources
- Advocacy and networking opportunities within a Google-certified professional community
Prior background knowledge isn’t required, and you can apply your certificate toward an online degree or certificate at UMGC.
Google Career Certificate FAQs
Get answers to specific questions about Google certificate options, program length, difficulty, UMGC vouchers, and more.
The following Google Career Certificates are available through this initiative. Please review the number of courses and modules to understand the scope and complexity of each program.
- Advanced Data Analytics
- 7 courses, 35 modules
- AI Essentials
- 5 modules
- Business Intelligence
- 3 courses, 14 modules
- Cybersecurity
- 8 courses, 33 modules
- Data Analytics
- 8 courses, 36 modules
- Digital Marketing & E-commerce
- 7 courses, 30 modules
- IT Automation with Python
- 6 courses, 29 modules
- IT Support
- 5 courses, 31 modules
- Project Management
- 6 courses, 27 modules
- Prompting Essentials
- 4 modules
- UX Design
- 7 courses, 27 modules
Certificate programs are substantive and vary in scope and complexity. Google estimates that most learners will need three to six months to complete a typical certificate if they work on it 10 hours per week. Before registering for a certificate, please ensure that your schedule can accommodate the added work.
Scheduling is flexible. However, once a learner completes a certificate program, the license can be offered to another learner, and UMGC hopes to extend this valuable offer to as many learners as possible before the offer expires on December 31, 2027. With that in mind, UMGC asks that learners make steady and consistent progress toward a chosen certificate, equivalent to the completion of one module every two weeks. If you are unable to make the progress necessary to complete the certificate, UMGC reserves the right to withdraw your license at its discretion so that it can be offered to another learner.
Google Career Certificates are recognized in the industry for providing strong foundational skills in a variety of fields. Learners who complete a certificate have access to:
- One-on-one career coaching
- A dedicated job platform for certificate holders
- Exclusive career-prep resources
- Advocacy and networking opportunities within a Google-certified professional community
Additionally, some certificates may qualify for UMGC credit.
No. Each certificate program includes all necessary learning materials; no prior experience is required.
Coursera is a global online learning platform that offers anyone, anywhere, access to online courses and degrees. Coursera is not directly affiliated with Google; it is authorized by Google to host and teach the preparatory content for the Google certificates.
Some certificates—like AI Essentials and Prompting Essentials—are shorter programs comprising a single course designed to introduce fundamental concepts that are applicable to any field. Other, longer certificate programs are designed to prepare a learner for a specific career path.
Yes. All courses are 100 percent online and asynchronous, meaning you can complete them at your own pace. (Be aware that, as noted above, you should plan to make steady progress toward completing the certificate, and access expires on December 31, 2027.)
Each certificate consists of one or multiple courses, and each course contains multiple modules. The total number of courses and modules varies depending on the scope and complexity of the program. For example, Data Analytics includes eight courses with a total of 36 modules, while AI Essentials comprises a single course with five modules.
To earn a certificate, learners will be required to complete activities such as:
- Watching instructional videos
- Reading course materials
- Taking quizzes
- Submitting assignments
The Google certificates are not UMGC courses. They are credentials created by Google to address the IT-related needs of a wide variety of careers.
Yes, in some cases. Certain Google Career Certificates have been articulated for UMGC credit. Please check our Google Certificates transfer credit equivalencies to see which certificates qualify. (Note that you must complete the certificate and submit the proof of completion to be eligible for credit.) Please consult with a UMGC advisor or success coach to determine if you will be able to apply credit towards a degree.
No, UMGC grades are not associated with completing a Google Career Certificate.
Completion or non-completion of Google certificates will not affect your GPA (even if you earn UMGC credit for them).
If you have difficulties with the coursework, you may contact Coursera’s support team. UMGC faculty, advisors, and success coaches will not be able to assist with Google certificate content.
You can apply to take a second Google Career Certificate, but UMGC cannot guarantee access. If licenses are still available, UMGC will consider your request.